The Original Grobag Baby Sleep Bag, 2.5 Tog

This is the default sleep bag for a huge number of UK parents, and the reason is straightforward - a roomy, generously cut body means there's no loose fabric bunching near the face, the shoulder poppers make night nappy changes quick without fully undressing your baby, and the range spans tog ratings and sizes from newborn right through to age three. The 2.5 tog version is the workhorse weight for a typical UK bedroom in spring or autumn, or a moderately heated room in winter.

Where the Grobag differs from a swaddle like Love To Dream's Swaddle UP is arm freedom - this is designed to be safe for rolling babies precisely because the arms stay free, whereas a swaddle needs retiring once rolling starts. That does mean it lacks the arms-up self-soothing effect that makes the early newborn weeks easier for some babies, which shows up as a lower score on self-soothe in our comparison. Think of the Grobag as the long-haul product and the swaddle as the short, early-stage specialist.

Right for pretty much every baby past the very newborn stage, and especially good value if you're looking for one product family that will see you through to toddlerhood rather than buying several different sleepwear systems. Parents of a very unsettled newborn who isn't yet rolling may still want a swaddle for the first weeks before switching over.

You will need more than one tog rating across the seasons - a single 2.5 tog bag isn't right for a hot summer night or the depths of winter, so factor in buying at least two weights. The cotton-rich fabric is comfortable but not the most breathable in the range, and sizing runs slightly generous, so check the height guide rather than assuming by age alone.